Here are three great iPhone apps to take you into the weekend. The Weather Channel MAX is now compatible with iOS 6 and also features the beautiful redesign we wrote about a few months ago. Cooking Planit is an app aimed at people who enjoy cooking but have previously found trying new recipes a bit intimidating. Finally, we’ve got The Room, a 3-D puzzle game shrouded in mystery with stunning graphics to make your iPad 2 (and above) shine.
The Weather Channel MAX ($3.99)
What’s it about? Hot on the heels of the release of iOS 6, the popular ad-free Weather Channel apps got a big refresh to match its free counterpart.
What’s cool? We’re glad to see the new look applied to the paid-for app. The app is fully compatible with iOS 6 and also includes the shiny UI redesign of the free version. There are severe alerts, no ads, future radar for six hours ahead and expanded forecast information including 15-minute forecasts within the hourly tab.
Who is it for? The app is great for weather buffs who prefer their apps to be ad-free. The redesign is slick with better personalization features, and the app helps to convey the weather with a more visual element.
What’s it like? Numerous weather options are available in the iTunes App Store of course, so take your pick from the likes of WeatherBug, Accuweather, Weather+, Weather HD 2 and many, many more.
Cooking Planit ($2.99)
What’s it about? Just in time for the weekend, Cooking Planit is an app that encourages you to try new recipes out.
What’s cool? Cooking Planit is a bit like having your very own personal cooking assistant. It provides a set of simple-to-use tools that enable cooks to combine the recipes of multiple dishes into a complete meal. It’s smart enough to organize the cooking process and provide step-by step instructions so that everything comes out properly.
Who is it for? The app is aimed at both novice and professional cooks. It aims to make the process far less intimidating and uses voice controls for easy navigation because your hands are likely to be full! The app can sync your grocery list with your friends and family and new recipes are added regularly.
What’s it like? There are a lot of good recipe and cooking companion apps out there, but Cooking Planit’s consumer-friendly approach is great for those intimidated by trying new recipes. Other apps worth looking at include Weight Watchers Kitchen Companion, How to Cook Everything, My Recipe Book and too many others to list.
The Room ($4.99, iPad 2 and above only)
What’s it about? The Room is a mind-bending, atmospheric 3-D puzzle game which will transport you to a unique place.
What’s cool? First off, this is a stunning-looking game with realistic and natural-looking HD visuals, hence why it’s only for later-release iPads. The app’s description is deliberately vague, but essentially you’ll find a beautiful box, open it, and discover some fantastic 3-D puzzles to solve. It’s all wrapped up in a sense of mystery and a vague horror element, while still being easy to pick up and play.
Who is it for? For those who like to push the limits of their tablet’s technology as well as those who enjoy games shrouded in mystery and intrigue, The Room should certainly impress. It’s an immersing experience with many layers.
What’s it like? It’s always fun to see unconventional games appear in the iTunes App Store as it really pushes mobile gaming to another level. The mysterious nature of The Room, reminds me of games like Sword & Sworcery but with more of a puzzle-solving element like in The Heist or even old-school titles like Myst.
